Движение связки двух астероидов

Космические исследования. 2013. Т. 51. № 3. С. 12–15.

Вильке В. Г., Chumachenko E., Dunham D. W., Nazirov R.

The topical problem is an asteroid falling to the Earth. If one considers the Earth and asteroid as material points, then the probability of a collision is equal to zero for two points. If the Earth is considered to be a sphere, the probability for an asteroid trajectory to pass through the region occupied by the spherical Earth becomes nonzero though small value. When the asteroid approaches the Earth, in the sphere of Earth’s action one should take into account the influence of gravitational field of the Earth on the asteroid motion. There are three scenarios of further evolution of events. The first scenario suggests the asteroid fall to the Earth. In the second case the asteroid orbit changes its parameters, as a result of attraction of the Earth, but the asteroid will leave the Earth’s vicinity. In the third case the asteroid orbit is transformed into orbital motion around the Earth, as it takes place with the Moon. The latter case is referred to as asteroid capture by the Earth. Further evolution of the asteroid orbit depends on orbit parameters and is subject to influence of dissipative factors, for example, drag of the Earth’s upper atmosphere.

Keywords: астероиды, Связка двух астероидов